LAMPARD: I’VE GIVEN EVERYTHING
@Discomirror
FRANK LAMPARD says he has “given it everything” at Everton – ahead of today’s showdown at West Ham which could ultimately decide his fate.
Defeat at the fellow relegation-threatened Hammers would almost certainly see Lampard sacked, a year after the former England midfielder took charge at Goodison Park.
Everton have won just once in 11 Premier League games, a wretched return of five points from 33 leaving them second from bottom of the table on goal difference.
Lampard’s plight has not been helped by the Toffees’ failure to add to his squad this month, with West Ham having signed striker Danny Ings, a player he wanted to bring to Merseyside.
Fan protests against the Everton board and ownership, over their perceived mismanagement of the club in recent years, have also added to Lampard’s difficulties on the pitch.
But Lampard refused to use those issues as an excuse for why his team are in such trouble and said he had done all he can under the circumstances he has found himself in.
“I’ve absolutely given it everything that I can and it’s not one for me to analyse all the circumstances,” said Lampard.
Asked if he has effectively been working with his hands tied behind his back, Lampard added: “No, I can’t answer that question and I don’t want to answer, in a way.
“I’ve been given an opportunity to work at a great club and I don’t want to sound too philosophical now – because it’s not like a podcast – but everything is a good challenge and an opportunity.
“I’ve had one of the most amazing nights of my career with Everton against Crystal Palace, when we came from behind to win and stay up.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself, about coaching, about living in this area of England, which I’d never lived or worked in before, so I don’t want to get hung up on those sort of things.
“I’ve got my own opinions on those things, obviously. But I think it would be really a lot for me to sit here and make statements like that, because when I came into it, I also had an understanding of what the job was, the size of the club, the positive things and some things that were maybe going to be taxing. I can’t control things on that front so I just work.”
Lampard said he understood the anger and frustration of Everton fans and insisted that only made him even more determined to turn things around and haul the club to safety.
“I want to get results for this club,” said Lampard. “I understand the situation. I understand the feeling of the stadium and I understand everything that’s going on around the stadium.
“It’s just made me more determined to get the right result. I don’t want to apportion blame anywhere else. I want to take responsibility.
“But I can’t say how great we were together last year, how strong we were together, without being honest about where we are now.
“The things outside of the pitch are hard for me to talk about and act like I can solve all of the problems, or all of the disputes.
“All I can do is prepare the team to get a result. That’s the one thing that joins everybody.”